“Rational people do irrational things,” said Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens last week as three of former Gov. Bev Perdue’s supporters pleaded guilty in connection to a long-running probe of Perdue’s 2008 campaign finances. “They seem to take leave of their senses during political campaigns,” he said.

They do. Political operatives and supporters should take note of what happened to Trawick “Buzzy” Stubbs Jr., former state magistrate Robert Caldwell and Morganton fast-food restaurant owner Charles Michael Fulenwider as a result. Diligence and honesty should be campaign fundraising mantras. Those who don’t follow those bywords could find themselves where these three did, in court facing criminal charges.

Stubbs and Caldwell were accused of hiding the source of money used for Perdue’s plane flights in 2007 and 2008 while she was a candidate for governor. Stubbs was fined $5,000 and Caldwell $500. Fulenwider was charged with funneling money to a Chapel Hill financial firm to help pay a Perdue fundraiser’s salary. He was fined $5,000.

All three pleaded to misdemeanor charges of obstruction of justice.

Stephens noted that the three were likely caught up in schemes initiated by Peter Reichard, Perdue’s chief finance officer and a fixture in Greensboro community leadershipcircles. He earlier pleaded to obstruction and got a suspended sentence and a $25,000 fine.

In that respect, Stubbs, Caldwell and Fulenwider may have been mostly bystanders, but they’ve learned a valuable lesson. In politics, know who you’re getting in bed with — because there’s a price to pay if you’re not diligent and honest during political campaigns, or even when you associate with someone who isn’t.